This document was an appeal to "The President of the Country, To the Churches, To Congress, To State Legislatures, To Philanthropists, and To the humane everywhere!!" to support those suffering in Kansas. The document was written by Thaddeus Hyatt, president of the National Kansas Committee, and it was endorsed by S. C. Pomeroy, chairman of the Kansas Relief Committee and general agent for distribution. This particular Kansas Relief Committee had been formed to combat the effects of the drought of 1860. This short appeal contained eloquent and emotional rhetoric in "behalf of 40,000 starving Americans."